On the 25th of April 2015, a massive earthquake devastated some areas of Nepal, killing over 8,000 people and destroying millions of homes, hospitals and schools. So many of you donated money that we were able to raise thousands of pounds to help in the immediate humanitarian crisis that followed. Thank you again to EVERYONE who sent money, knowing that we were in Nepal ourselves and would make sure that every penny went directly to people most in need.

In response to the many people who have asked us how they can help with the enormous task of rebuilding, here is our newly created trip that is strictly NOT FOR PROFIT, and allows people who want to physically help rebuild to come to Nepal and do exactly that. There are 2 ways that people who care about this beautiful Himalayan country can step up:-

Help us build. In the remote mountainous areas of Nepal some villages experienced up to 90% destruction of their homes, and after the second earthquake on May 12th, even fewer survived intact. Now that the immediate humanitarian need has abated, aid agencies, NGO’s and the Nepali government itself are focusing on replacing houses, schools and communal buildings, and the task facing them is enormous. Despite the large numbers of money donated by other countries, the UN are reporting that the short fall compared to the numbers actually needed is serious. While small groups can’t possibly make a real difference alone, there are many of us. People from charities and even armed forces that we met advised us, and all the many small groups who are raising money and working on the ground, to keep doing what we are. This is listening to our Nepali collegues and helping to build houses for the most needy. Through our friends at the newly created NGO ‘The Mandala Organisation’, we have been able to work with specific villages, in the most affected places. The teams are rebuilding environmentally friendly, earthquake proof houses for families who would struggle to manage alone. Older people, families who have experienced significant losses to the earthquakes, those sick or impaired in some way, need physical help as well as financial to put up a very simple, one roomed structure for themselves and their livestock.

Come to Nepal as a visitor, and travel in the unspoiled and ancient mountainous country that is still very much an adventure travellers paradise. Tourism is a crucial part of the Nepali economy, and Nepal needs the many thousands of visitors that come to and fall in love with her every year to continue rafting, trekking, climbing, sightseeing and experiencing this unique and dramatically beautiful country. Despite the damage done by the 2 earthquakes this spring, much of Nepal was untouched. Ancient monuments have been lost for ever, and many old buildings were destroyed in the capital city of Kathmandu, but many more remain. Nepal is still the home of most of the worlds 8,000m plus mountains, including the sacred Annapurna and Everest. And of course the rivers are as stunning, varied and exciting as ever. So one way of contributing to Nepal’s recovery is to come and visit, meet hill tribespeople, buy handicrafts from the many refugee Tibetan communities whose home is now in Nepal, stay in the many hotels and eat in the restaurants, both 5 star and simple village food.

Pure Land Expeditions are inviting you to spend 10 days with us in Nepal, working in the Sindhupalchok region, one of the worst affected areas.The trip will include sightseeing in Kathmandu, a chance to camp beside a river in a luxury resort, one days rafting on the world famous Bhote Kosi river, and the other days will be spent working alongside villagers rebuilding homes. The projects are being overseen by Nepali people who received training in constructing safe houses from available resources, and you will be part of building new homes from the ground up, and also the schools.

The valleys are beautiful, the people resilient and reknowned for their warmth and hospitality. This trip is 100% NOT FOR PROFIT, so the price only covers the overheads. This includes airport collection, hotels, trip taxi’s and jeeps, food while in the river camp and all excursions. The balance will go straight to The Manadala Organisation and it’s commitment to rebuilding one house at a time.

Give your time to Nepal this autumn, and Nepal will give you back a taste of the beauty, grandeur and pleasure in store for her visitors. We know you will want to come back again and again.

SCHEDULE:

Day 1- Arrive in Kathmandu, collection from the airport. Hotel in Boudhanath overlooking the

famous stupa.

Day 2- Sightseeing in and around Kathmandu (Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Ghats,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL OF YOU INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL DONATING TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN NEPAL:- We now have a pay pal account just for donations. PLEASE keep sending what you can, to nepal.fund@yahoo.co.uk. We are sending your donations direct to the not for profit NGO, The Mandala Organization , Disaster Help Foundation Nepal, to build houses, schools and support isolated and vulnerable communities in the remotest regions of Nepal. THANK YOU EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO HAVE SENT MONEY, you are making a real difference to people who have lost everything. If you have questions just ask.

On 25-04-15 Nepal suffered a huge Earthquake. Lives were lost and destruction huge, in effected areas over 95%.

Through our network of guides and colleagues we were able to put in place grass roots aid, well before official channels arrived.

This is what followers on social media said

PLEASE SHARE
Our grassroots aid and positive thoughts are ALL getting through to the Nepalese people.Darren Clarkson-King, Andrea Clarkson-King and the top team reached Kodari today.
That’s the really great news.
The really bad news is the situation they drove into.
Kodari is 95% wiped out.
Similar to Kathmandu, there’s a sanitation crisis in Kodari.
Daz has bought Sanitation Kits and these have all been distributed. However, Daz needs to give out more to try to stave off a total sanitation crisis in Kodari and villages like Kodari.
Please help in any way possible, a very small donation or perhaps you can get a Money Box for Nepal going?
Please donate whatever you can comfortably spare using PayPal: info@purelandexpeditions.com
Ref: ‘Quake’‪#‎grassrootsaid‬‪#‎hope‬

People have donated via paypal info@purelandexpeditions.com mark the payment ‘quake.

As media fades away we still work hard for the future, rebuiliding houses, schools and making a food supply chain.

Ask questions if needed, but be assured we know where each and every donation is going.

Through kind donations of equipment and time we have been able to develop an access fund that supports the growth, at grass roots level, of kayakers across India, Nepal and Bhutan. Allowing access to skills, knowledge and resources at an international level. We are forever indebted to the Baird-Parker family, friends and colleagues at Canalside centre, UK. Whose faith and support in the early stages of developing the Access Fund was instrumental and is a lasting legacy.

Goals

To promote an international quality of training

To provide scholarship for kayakers to undertake international competition and training

To provide sustainable personal development

To work in promoting kayak sport across the Himalayas

Kayakers Access Fund runs across India, Nepal and Bhutan

Kayakers Access Fund is a not for profit fund

How you can help

Donation of equipment

Donation of time

How Kayakers Access Fund is financed – we accept donations and all money from our hire fleet to tourist paddlers is returned to the fund.

To apply for a scholarship/financial place please email – info@purelandexpeditions.com

The main assessment areas for the week will include the following.
Must have an up to date logbook or experience letter.
First Aid certificate including cpr.
Must be able to deliver a full raft or safety craft safety talk.
Must be able to raft or kayak in a safe professional meaner on the chosen grade of water & be able to communicate with customers and fellow guides in a clear manner.
Must be able to complete a challenging swim on the chosen grade of water
Must complete a throwbag exercise.
Must be able to build a functioning 3;1 or 4;1 mechanical advantage system in 5 minutes using your own equipment.
Must be able to flip and re flip a raft as per the IRF flip drill in 2 minutes or less.
Must score more that 80% on the IRF written test.Must pay the IRF admin fees.

All guides need to bring the following on the course.
PFD ideally a rescue PFD with a internal chest harness
Whitewater helmet
Knife
Whistle
Throwbag
Flip line & caribeaners
Equipment needed to build a functioning 3;1 mechanical advantage system
Personal paddling clothing/wet/dry suit

The week will belong and intensive. We will be in the water lots. We will also have rest time, personal time in Leh and cultural tours if required. We will be tired & cold at times. But we will all learn so much from each other.

Day 2 – Leh. Acclimatise and sightseeing. For the more energetic a visit to a few monasteries such as Shey, Thikse and Hemis will be arranged. Or choose to relax and walk into Leh town, to its exciting market and outdoor restaurants. Overnight Leh hotel. Course brief.

Day 5 – Drive Rangdum – Remala (3635m ; 11,925ft ; 6 hrs). We drive to Remala, which is the starting point for the rafting trip on the Stod river, a tributary of the Zanskar river. We drive over the Pensi La (14,500 ft), which enables grand views of the Zanskar peaks at the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Zanskar river, 40 km below, into which we flow trip the next day. Overnight tented camp.

Day 6 – Expedition begins at Remala. On the water until Karsha Gompa, near Padum. (3496m ; 11,466ft We journey 30 km in 4-5 hrs which includes a break for lunch and hot beverages. We are surrounded by 6000 metre high peaks. River section today includes a Class II section, a good introduction for first timers as well as to the river in general. Settle into camp by afternoon, we can take an optional hike to Karsha Gompa.

Day 7 – After a late morning start, we raft from Karsha to Honyo / Pidmo (3361m ; 11,025 ft ; 3 hrs). This stretch is approximately 25 km with Class II and III rapids. Another easy day to get used to the river, the altitude and hone our paddling skills.

Day 8 – After packing camp, we raft 25 km to Nyerak (3286m ; 10,780ft ; 3 hrs) a Class III/IVsection. The gorge narrows in on the river – this indeed is a Grand Canyon in its own right. We stop for the day to pitch camp in a gorge below Nyerak village.

Day 9 – Rest day at Nyerak. Take a hike to Nyerak village or relax under the cool shade of the willows at our Campsite. Wash up at the campsite stream and enjoy the day off. Land rope work

Day 10 – Today is 35 km rafting section takes us from Nyerak to Lamaguru (3190m ; 10,465ft ; 5-6 hrs including scout and lunch) through the core of the Zanskar A classic white water day with continuous Class III/IV rapids, and a few Class IV rapids with bite, where the river squeezes between a gap of about 18ft. We stop for lunch near a huge waterfall and continue to camp at the confluence of Markha river with the Zanskar. Rock formations, spires and an amazing palette of colours add to the trip today. Camp.

Day 11 – We raft 40 kms of Class III/IV white water from Lamaguru to Nimu (3154m;10,345 ft ; 3-4 hrs) today. We raft past the village of Chilling and exciting rapids as the Zanskar plunges out of the canyon to meet with the Indus at Nimu. We end our trip at the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. Stay resort.

Nepal season fully underway now and our plans are moving to India in the spring Mar-May of 2015. We have Multi River expedition based on the Ganga, the Alaknanda, Pindar and more rivers. This is lodge stay with international guides suitable for class 4 paddlers. We also have a great intermediate expedition with an amazing descent of Kali Sarda that borders India and Nepal. This is a full supported trip, raft support, sights in Delhi, amazing train ride all away from the stresses of modern life, a lesser traveled class 3 perfect. email info(at)purelandexpeditions.com more more data. With prices from £920 now is the chance of a lifetime.

Our Zanskar season is slowly coming to a close and we are getting set for our Suru missions in Kargil and our trips in Nepal. Our premier departure on the Zanskar is already taking bookings for next year. We are taking private dates along with our classic departures. This expedition is suitable not just for kayakers but for rafters and adventure seekers. Our premier departure includes visits to monastic communities, time in the ancient city of Leh and inspiring vistas. It truly is a life changing trip.

Cost

kayak £1250

Rafter £1275

2015 DATES

3nd Aug Zanskar Raft/Kayak

Private groups on request, dates during Aug, Min numbers 4

For adventure kayakers we are also taking bookings for the ultra classic Tsarap Chu self supported expedition. This is a great week long remote class 4/4+ canyon that we run in a self support fashion. We include the Zanskar and the Indus also on this schedule, making it an amazing two week journey.

New for 2015 we will also be running a bespoke Markha Valley 3 week trek – a mysterious land, forbidding by any measure. This mysterious “land of passes” is also the abode for several hardy animals and birds. It also boasts rare high mountain foliage. Yak, Nyan, Urial, Black Necked Crane, Ibex are some rare spices of wildlife which you will see during your trip.

NEWS FLASH

Soon to be released will be the NEW ebook, Whitewater Ladakh a mini guide by Darren Clarkson-King & Tsering Chotak

Kerala is fast becoming the new paddling Mecca of India if not the world. Clear rivers, jungle classic style slides, boofs, playholes and much more. Every monsoon Kerala hosts the Malabar River Festival and this brings international paddlers to compete in this amazing playground. In 2014 we held our first indeterminate workshops in the region and are now planning for 2015

Pure Land Expeditions are pleased to announce that from 2015 we will be offering bespoke private trips for intermediate class 3-4 paddlers along with advanced class 4-5 runs seeking first descents and running harder lines. Our tours include hotel stay, private transport, guides and coaching. We will have a fleet of hire kayaks available for those that do not wish to travel with a boat (charges apply). These include Nomad, Karnali, Diesel along with playboats.

The tour will be based in Kodenchery and we will offer free transfers Calicut airport or train station.

Kerala has a wide selection of rivers, some exploring trips and some road side. We will design the daily schedule in relation to the water levels and group.

Our season based in Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh has come to an end -We have secured the logistic support for our Paradise India schedule for next season, Ganga, Alaknanda, Pindar, Manadakni and Tons, this is set to be an premier trip with base camps, overnights and hotels throughout.

It is now time to travel south to Malabar to explore some new rivers and the great contest. From the south we fly to the FAR NORTH, to Zanskar season – our first trip starts on 2Aug, we just know you will love it up here. The Zanskar is a classic canyon, with time to explore the monastic and cultural landscape along with the river.

For the second year running we are proud to announce our Tsarap Chu Kayak descents are all set to go. This amazing river is a class4/4+ tight canyon that we run in a self support fashion, kayakers only – 23rd Aug Tsarap/Zanskar Combo NOW REDUCED TO £1100 AND STILL SAVE 10% WITH GROUPS OF 4 OR MORE (£990)

Following Zanskar season its the move back to Nepal, our all time classic Sun Kosi trip along with Poon Hill treks and bespoke adventures.

Our 25th Oct raft and kayak Sun Kosi special has spaces available at a REDUCED RATE £800/900 for groups of 4 or more. Now is no better time to book.